It was a fun day at the park on Wednesday, June 12 for Bent Mountain and other area residents. The Bent Mountain branch of the library hosted a kick-off picnic to help usher in summer and to promote their summer reading program which goes from June 3 to August 9. The library provided hot dogs, drink and chips and not only that, but they offered face painting by Snookums the Clown and even had various games for the kids as well. The picnic took place outside of the Bent Mountain Public Library and was a big success. Kids and their parents played with bubbles, a parachute game, and they even got to use the playground too. The sun was shining and the air was clear up on the mountain that day… perfect for playing outdoors. You can read more about the county-wide library summer reading program here.

Lincoln stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt Rated PG-13; 2012; 150 minutes As the Civil War continues to rage, America’s president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield and as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves.

• Date: June 25
• Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
• Time Details: This movie starts at 6:00 PM and lasts 150 minutes
• Location: South County Library
• Contact: (540) 772-7507
• Cost: free

Submitted by: Roanoke County Public Libraries

Because nothing is more groundbreaking than breathing dinosaurs!

• Date: June 18
• Time: 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• Time Details:
• Tuesday, June 18 from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM at South County Library.
• Location: South County Library
• Cost: Free

Submitted by: Roanoke County Public Libraries

Foundation for Roanoke Valley announces it has awarded close to $100,000 in educational scholarships during its annual scholarship reception, held at The Patrick Henry Ballroom on May 23.

The Foundation administers 48 endowed scholarship funds, and it received more than 900 applications for scholarships this year. Recipients were selected on a competitive basis using criteria established by donors at the creation of the scholarship endowment.

The Foundation’s largest scholarship, its “Holland Scholar Award,” is always at least $10,000 and is given annually to an outstanding graduating senior from the Roanoke Valley who shows exceptional promise in his or her future college career. For 2013, the scholarship was $10,000 and was presented to Annie L. McGowan, a senior at Northside High School. McGowan will attend University of Virginia in the fall.

Other scholarships awarded to Roanoke Valley students include: (Names of Southwest Roanoke County students in italics)

The Alphin Family Scholarship Fund: Mary K. Lawrence and Katherine R. Schwam, Rockbridge County High School.

Cave Spring Lions Club Scholarship Fund: McKenzie E. Prillaman, Cave Spring and Emily K. Warren, William Byrd.

CITY School Foundation Scholarship Fund: Grace M. Casola, Patrick Henry and Ollie M. B. Howie, William Fleming.

Christi Crutchfield Memorial Scholarship Fund: Taylor N. Medley, Northside.

Helen F. Dickson Scholarship Fund: Logan C. Chaudoin and Analea M. Deeds, Alleghany; Lauren E. Alban, Covington.

Lenna E. Etzler Scholarship Fund: Devin S. Hogue, Lord Botetourt. Franklin County High School Scholarship Fund: Christy M. Braziel and Rachel L. Lowe.

Gilbert-Thompson Memorial Award Fund: Patrick C. Burns and Analea M. Deeds, Alleghany.

Clarence M. Gillis Memorial Scholarship Fund: Ollie M. B. Howie, William Fleming.

Michael Dean Guilliams Memorial Scholarship Fund: Cara J. Griffith, Roanoke Valley Christian School.

Margaret Jones Irvin Scholarship Fund: McKenzie E. Prillaman, Cave Spring; Austin G. Peters, Salem; Tyler K. Williams, George Wythe.

Melva P. Jones Scholarship Fund: Taylor A. Zimmerman, William Byrd.

Grace Lovegrove Memorial Scholarship Fund: Alina E. Woodford, Patrick Henry.

Marion Senior High School Memorial Scholarship Fund for Music, Arts, and the Performing Arts: Leighia K. Null.

Ronald L. Mayfield, Jr. Scholarship Fund: Yadav Sapkota, Patrick Henry.

The Louise and Sam McGhee Scholarship Fund: Kelly A. Albert, Hannah R. Austin, and Morgan K. Rakes, James River.

Dorothy and Julien Meyer, Sr., M.D. Scholarship Fund: Ciara N. Craddock, Faith Christian School.

Clarissa Edwards Noland Memorial Scholarship Fund: Hannah R. Austin, James River.

The National Honor Society – Felton Pendleton Memorial Scholarship Fund: Christopher J. Kremm and Tyler K. Williams, George Wythe.

Jean L. Price Scholarship Fund: Lynsey N. Barker, North Cross School; Ollie M. B. Howie, William Fleming; Beatrice Ruth-Cooper, Franklin County; Olivia L. Williamson, James River.

Dr. Robert A. Pruner Memorial Scholarship Fund: Quincy T. Miller, Patrick Henry.

Phillip Charles “Flip” Reid Scholarship Fund: Jonathon L. Brown, Alleghany.

E. Price Ripley Memorial Foundation Fund: Bryan C. Daunt, Glenvar; Taylor N. Medley, Northside; Adrianna N. Wilson, Franklin County.

Frank W. (Bo) Rogers Scholarship Fund: Bryan C. Daunt and Sarah J. Thomsen, Glenvar.

David Roller Memorial Scholarship Fund: Hannah M. Graves, Patrick Henry.

Scholarship Fund for Craig County High School Students: Bridgett J. Oliver.

Michael David Scott Memorial Scholarship Fund in Honor of the James River High School Class of 2000: Storm Durham.

Frank D. “Bo” Shrader Memorial Scholarship Fund: Cheyenne N. Slawson, Bath County.

Eddie Simpson Scholarship Fund: Analea M. Deeds, Alleghany.

The Joyce and Shad Solomon Family Scholarship Fund: Katelyn M. Rice, Bath County.

Samuel “Bo” Terry Scholarship Fund: Sadie T. I. Elliotte, William Fleming; Hannah M. Graves, Patrick Henry.

Bryan William Thomas Scholarship Fund: Bryce S. Mallette, Glenvar.

H.B. and E.B. Wharton Scholarship Fund: Ciara N. Craddock, Faith Christian School; Grant A. Plunkett, William Byrd; Suhaib Tahir, Hidden Valley.

Dianne E.H. Wilcox Scholarship Fund: Analea M. Deeds, Alleghany; Ethan H. Richardson, Marion Senior.

The Wings Scholarship Fund: Brittany K. MacPherson; Franklin County.

Melva Dulaney Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund: McKenzie E. Prillaman, Cave Spring.

Foundation for Roanoke Valley is the community foundation serving this region. The Foundation has worked for more than two decades to administer and make grants from hundreds of named endowment funds on behalf of the community. For more information, visit Foundation for Roanoke Valley’s website at www.foundationforroanokevalley.org or call 985-0204.

Submitted by Michelle Eberly

7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15

The Winter Line, a Staunton-based folk band (with a slight Celtic twist) will play at the Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on Starkey Road from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, June 15

For more information or to hear their music: www.thewinterlineband.com or visit facebook.com/MillMountainCoffeeStarkey. Here’s the link to the event on Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/152763691573738/.

Can’t make it Saturday? The Winter Line Band is playing a day earlier, Friday, June 15 at our Salem store from 7 to 9 p.m.

– Submitted by Miranda Beck, Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea

“Slam of the Fourth Man!” will be held Thursday, June 13 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the South County Library. The event is free.

From the Roanoke County website:

Learn about music, write lyrics, perform, and record. Become the fourth and final member this trio needs! In the auditorium.

A Superman Movie Marathon will be held Thursday, June 13 from 1 to 9 p.m. at the South County Library. The event is free.

From the Roanoke County website:

Watch the classic Superman before going to see Man of Steel on June 14! Because, let’s face it, you cannot get too much of this iconic character.

Our paparazzi photo crew was at opening night of “Stuart Little” at the Roanoke Children’s Theatre, and here are the Southwest Roanoke County people who stepped onto the red carpet.

* Aariana and Aariel Maynard
* Lauren Naidy
* Ashley Campbell and Anna Lee
* Clara, Jackson, and Julie Sessor
* Susan Still

Click through to see the photos individually or click here to see them all at once as thumbnails.

The show runs through Sunday; you can find details here.

Photo courtesy of Tim Arnold

Tim Arnold, also known as “The Silhouette Man” is coming to Our Little Cherubs Boutique on June 14 and 15.  Tim Arnold is famous for his accuracy and exquisite detailing when creating his one-of-a-kind silhouettes.

These famous silhouettes make a great gift for parents, grandparents, dads for Father’s Day, or even of graduates in their cap and gown.

Tim Arnold will be at Our Little Cherubs Boutique on Friday, June 14 from 10 to 6 and 10 to 5 on Saturday, June 15.  Appointments are recommended. He can also do silhouettes of pets.

To schedule an appointment, call (540) 725-7777

Information from Danielle Deeds

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is providing parents and other caregivers with a collection of activities, resources and tips to promote summer learning. The information is available on the new Virginia is for Lovers … of Summer Learning page of the VDOE website and includes learning opportunities in reading, mathematics, history and science.

“Students who read for pleasure during the summer and engage in other fun learning activities are less likely to lose ground while school is out and are more likely to be ready for success in the fall,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright said. “All of our Virginia is for Lovers … of Summer Learning resources and activities are from trusted sources and can be easily adapted for family vacations and summer child care programs.”

Virginia is for Lovers … of Summer Learning includes links to free activities and resources developed by respected organizations, such as the Library of Virginia, the Public Broadcasting System, the Smithsonian Institution, the Virginia General Assembly, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and MetaMetrics, which provides the Lexile and Quantile scores on students’ Standards of Learning (SOL) test score reports.

Parents and other caregivers can use Lexile scores to create custom summer reading lists based on children’s reading levels and interests. Quantile scores can be used to register rising third-, fourth-, fifth-and sixth-grade students for a customized, six-week, email-based mathematics-skills program to build their current achievement level.

The Virginia is for Lovers … of Summer Learning webpage also includes a downloadable flyer and bookmarks for use and distribution by parents, schools, summer camp programs and child care centers.

“The Virginia is for Lovers … of Summer Learning webpage is a great place to start planning activities for national Summer Learning Day,” Wright said.

This year, Summer Learning Day is Friday, June 21. The annual observance was created to raise awareness of the role of quality summer learning programs in improving student achievement and outcomes, especially among at-risk children.

Information from the Roanoke County Website